Page 37 of King of Guilt

“Hello, Emmie!” Kyle’s voice came from over my head, shattering all hopes of an impromptu escape. “Hey, Chloe. Long time no see!” He hugged Chloe before turning to Sara, Maude, and Sydney. “Hey ladies. I won’t be long.” Pulling a thick envelope from the inside of his jacket, he handed it to Chloe. “I was this close to making a transfer, but then Sara here told me that you’re all meeting.” Turning to me, he grinned, leaning closer as he placed his hand on the chair backrest behind me. “Which is perfect because… can I have a minute?”

Tossing a glare in my cousin’s direction, I gritted my teeth and grabbed my glass with only a couple of sips remaining in it. Standing up, I hissed, “Sure. Why not?” We stepped outside, away from the noise, and Kyle lit up a cigarette. It was freezing, so I crossed my arms and rubbed them with my hands. “Can you make it quick?”

“Leave him.”

“Okay?” I furrowed my eyebrows. “Couple of steps back, please?”

“I know why you married him—actually, I know about the whole thing.”

“Excuse me?”

“It all adds up now! Big boss with millions to spare. Loving mother, dying. But you did a good number on me back there, making me feel like I ruined your best chance at love. But you know what’s really hurting you, Emmie? You still love me… and you know that I never stopped wanting you.”

In utter disbelief of what I was hearing, I parted my lips, scandalized by the mere thought of him believing all of it. “First of all, the nerve on you! The ego! God! Whoever fed you this nonsense?”

“Doesn’t matter who my sources are, darling. What matters is that you and I both know that you’re in a loveless marriage with an expiry date on it. The mom’s gone, you’re getting whatever it was that he promised you. Why not make it on Valentine’s Day? I got a new apartment waiting for your beautifying touch—”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I lifted a hand, secretly praying that it was all a nightmare from which I would soon wake. “Just—Stop! Stop.” I allowed a titter to escape my lips, my mind stalling. “I can’t believe you can be so delusional after all this talk of therapy and recovery—”

“Those are the very things that revealed to me; you were the best thing that ever happened in my life!”

“And that was a phase. A part of the past that’s not coming back.”

“That guy doesn’t love you—he doesn’t even know you! You’re nothing but a tool to him. Those rich guys, how do you think they get that way? By using people. Regular people, unassuming victims like you—”

“That’s enough!” I shouted. “That’s my husband you’re talking about! And I will not stand here and let you insult me like this.”

“You know what’s insulting? That after I told you I know everything, you still insist on playing this pathetic little part.” His face was now practically crimson as he pointed a threatening finger in my face. “And just like you cared enough to want to protect me from my stupid actions back then… I’m going to do the same for you, Emmie. If you don’t agree to ending this marriage by the fourteenth, I promise you… I will expose your perfect husband to the world.”

“Don’t you see how this will be hurting me?”

He smirked. “So, you’re admitting it’s true.”

“I’m saying that a rumor like that will destroy my career, you idiot! Who else will hire me if people say that I marry wealthy men for money?”

“You won’t need to look for another job, because once we rekindle our love this Valentine’s Day, baby… I’ll take good care of you.”

“Oh my God!” I couldn’t hide my disgust.

“No, you don’t understand. My uncle left me his store! I’m a business owner now!”

Feeling my stomach turn, I placed the back of my hand under my nose, suddenly smelling a whiff of urine that the wind brought on. Shaking my head, I took a step toward the bar door. “Please, leave.”

“Emma! Emma!” I heard him shout.

Running inside, I barged over toward the table and snatched my purse, throwing a fiery glare at Sara.

“Em, I’m so sorry— she pleaded.

“Save it!” I lifted a hand between us, grinding my jaws. “I’m leaving.”

“Oh, come on!” Chloe objected, while the others spoke similar words of protest.

Shrugging, I grabbed my thick scarf, wrapping it around my neck. “Suddenly, I’m not in a very festive, cocktail mood, alright? I’m sorry. Let’s make it another night.”

When I bolted back out, I found Kyle still standing there. He tossed his cigarette as soon as he saw me, and shifted quickly so that our shoulders bumped. With me avoiding eye contact, I marched toward the parking lot where I knew the driver was waiting. Kyle kept following me, saying things like, “You know I’m right, Emma! You know what we had was special!” and “You wouldn’t have tolerated all that if you didn’t love me! It was real love, Emma!”

As soon as I saw the driver see me and get out of the car, I was given the push I needed to turn around and face Kyle. In the middle of the parking lot, I shouted, “It was, Kyle. Was. Past tense! And now I love Dean, and it’s real and good, and I’d rather go home to him right now than listen to one more word from you!”

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